Apparatus fob burning bricks



Jan.

v W. W. DIIGKH$UM JR APPARATUS FOR BUR/NING BRICKS Filed July 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zekin- Q 1% yen for Jan. 19 1926. w

' W. W- DICKINSON; JR

APPARATUS FOR BURNING BRICKS 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1923 m u ww (Edi 118021;

Wiliam Ia uerz tor Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

WILLIAM W. DICKINSON, JR.

PATENT OFFICE.

, 0F LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

APPARATUS FOR BURNING- BRICKS.

Application filed July 13, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. DIGKIN- son, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in ipparatus for Burning Bricks, of which the following is a full clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings.

This invention relates to the art of making bricks and has special reference to the burning of the same, the word bricks as herein used including tiles and other build ing shapes. The principal objects of the invention are the provision of new and simple expedients for saving fuel and securing a uniform burning of the brick or tile. Other objects are the provision of a construction and arrangement of kilns and their adjuncts as shall enable the repeated use of the hot gases with a minimum of permanent construction such as walls, roofs and tunnels; the provision of a continuous kiln which may be built in the open and with only the patterns of brick work most frequently used in kiln building; the provision of a new and simple form of kiln construction which shall combine the advantages of a field kiln with those of a continuous kiln and this with a maximum simplicity of construction and minimum of heat loss; the provision of a continuous kiln without tunnels in which 'atcr m. y condense and without permanent walls to absorb heat and impede work; the provision of a construction of continuous kiln wherein the heat is distributed uniforml}; the provision of a kiln of this nature which can be used successfully with any customary fuel or any type of clay; while further objects and advantages of my inven tion will becom apparent as the description proceeds.

in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification 1 have shown certain preferred embodiments of my idea although it will be understood that these are illustrative only and not limiting upon me. Fig. l is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view through a series of kilns arranged to burn gas; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding generally to the broken line Serial No. 651,215.

22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view corresponding to the broken line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a row of kilns embodying my improvements; Fig. 5 is a left hand end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are perspective views showing in detail the preferred patterns employed in different parts; Fig. 9 shows a modification adapted for burning with oil; and Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate modifications to adapt the same for burning with coal.

in the performance of my invention I build a row of kilns A, B, (l, D, etc, end to end in an unbroken row as shown in Fig. l. Preferably I employ permanent abutments or piers 1, 2 at the two ends, which may well be lined with fire brick as shown at 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. The kilns are included between parallel side walls 4ld which may if desired have a batter or inclination toward the top although I have shown them as vertical and each kiln is separated from its neighbor by a cross wall 5. The outside or scove walls 4% may be built of large portable panels if desired, as per my Patent No. 1,403,300 but I have here shown them as built of burned bricks laid on edge with their maximum dimension perpendicular to the kiln wall. The walls 5, 5 are made of unburned bricks laid on edge as shown in Fig. 6 and lengthwise of the kiln; the walls 5 are laid as tightly as possible so as to prevent leakage of fluid except at the arches 6, 6 which are provided at spaced points next the ground.

Adjacent to each of the side walls 4, 4c, and at one side of each of the cross walls 5, 1 preferably lay a wall or tier 7 of unburned bricks in cob-hacked relation as shown in detail perspective in Fig. 7. This is a setting well known to kiln builders and consists of spaced bricks laid two over two, crosswise, as in a cob housef Inside the space defined by these cob-hacked walls I lay other bricks in any of the familiarhoneycomb patterns employed in kilns. The pattern I prefer is that known as three-overone, as shown in detail perspective in Fig. 8, two of the bricks being set close together and then two more also close together but spaced from the first two about the thickness of a mans fingers thus affording many narrow passageways for the hot gases; although this pattern is susceptible of modification according to the fancy or habit of the builder, the nature of the clay, the dimensions of the bricks, etc. It is genera ly important however, to have this body portion 8 of the kiln surrounded by layers of smaller density such as the layers 7, although other patterns than the cob-hack may doubtless be employed for the latter. The layers 7 surround only three sides of this body portion, while the fourth side is spaced from the head wall 3 and correspondingly from each cross-wall 5 to define the open lines 9, 9 which extend from side to side and from top to bottom of the kiln.

The walls l-4 may be spaced apart so as to make the kiln of any desired width, limited, generally only by the structural demands of the shed or roof with which they are generah l" covered. The cross walls 5, 5 are spaced from the head wall 3 and from each other any distance which experience shows to afford a uniform burning; l have found a distance of from sixteen to twenty lengths of brick from the flue 9 to the cross wall 5 very satisfactory. The height is also largely a matter of choice. I have shown and in practice have found very satisfactory a height of thirty courses, the top of the kiln being covered with an air tight platting 10. This platting may be done with burned bricks but I greatly prefer a fire brick tile made with overlapping portions and laid two-ply with broken joints, since this can be made of suncient size to bridge easily the fines 9, 9, which are preferably made some ten to twelve inches wide.

The upper courses of brick in the kiln body are preferably columns 11 and passageways 12 running from the flue 9 to the cob-course adjacent the cross-wall, and the platting is laid on top of these columns. The platting and scoving is preferably daubed with mud to minimize air leak, and the portions of the scoving opposite the fines 9 are preferably displaced therein as shown at 13 so as to break joints with the cross walls 5. Each flue is also formed at each side with a removable portion 15 adapted for the reception of the intake pipe 16 of an exhaust fan 17 operated by an electric motor 18 or other power device, and having a discharge pipe 19. These fans are movably supported as by the trucks 2O, 20 so as to be shifted from kiln to kiln as the burning progresses.

When gas is to be used for fuel a small tunnel 24 is constructed beneath each flue, and the bottom of each flue is made of tile 25 having opposite each of the arches 6 an aperture 26 in which is located a gas pipe 21 each of the pipes having a separate control valve 28 outside the kiln. 'he head wall is formed with inlet openings 29 opposite the difierent gas jets. Also as the kiln is built each of the arches 6, 6 is covered with a flap of paper 30, as shown in Fig. 1, preferably fastened into the wall at the top and hanging freely in the flue like a checkvalve.

Any desired number of kilns can be built in a row; the full value of my invention is not secured with less than seven kilns and the best number is from twenty to forty or even more. In practice a number of kilns arev built in substantially the manner described beginning with A in Fig. 4. The exhaust fans are attached to the openings l5, 15 of kiln B and a low fire started in the first flue. The paper flaps 30 in the fine of kiln C prevent any back flow of air and the construction of the kiln with its llltiiiil'litilll looseness at the walls and top causes the hot gas to pass through the whole mass with substantial uniformity. it the end of a day or two, dependent-upon the ire, the water content of the bricks, and the drying nature of the clay (all of which depend upon the peculiarities of the clay since some clays will stand more heat than others), the moisture content of the issuing es generally falls to such a point that the ...,is may be moved to the openings '15, 15 of kiln C, thereby utilizing the drying power of these gases to the utmost; and often times the fan will be moved to kiln D before the temperature of kiln A has risen to burning temperature. During this period the fuel supply to kiln A has gradually been increased until the bricks therein have been burned thoroughly, whereupon the gas is turned onto the burners of kiln B and the burners of kiln A are shut off. It now becomes possible to burn kiln B with much less fuel than kiln A, both because of its long preheating and because of the fact that are entering air is itself preheated the hot bricks in kiln A. When the burning in kiln B is complete the fire is advanced to kiln C and the air drawn through both kiln A and kiln B, the fan bein always advanced so that the gases issuing therefrom are as arl saturated as possible. I have had the ill) nice or the after passing the burning one, or seven kilns in all, but thisis likely to vary with different clays, and different fuels, and possibly min different sizes of kilns.

{LS soon the burned kilns are so far cooled that the heat derivable from them is less than the power required to draw the air through them, the wall 13 of the next flue is broken down, after which the preoding kiln can be torn down, which is effected from the outside, all p s being loaded out except the platting which is transferred ii L,

down the line; with the result that the kiln row may exhibit kilns being built, dried, preheated, burned, cooled, and loaded out, all at the same time. Generally the most con venient practice is so to gauge the size and rapidity ct burning the kilns that the it" is advanced each day, although do not can clude the possibility oil having the in two or more adjacent kilns at the same time. the loot end of the row is approached the lire necessarily approaches more nearly to the tan, and the latter is protected from in jury either by drawing the gases through a cooling chamber such as a kiln X left standing continuously for the purpose (and built oi unmerchantable bricks) or by allowing such an admission of cold air to the fan. as shall temper the hot gases. Also enough cold air is admitted to the different tunnels 2 1:, to protect the gas pipes; or the latter can be drawn a distance below ground since the gas does not ordinarily burn until some distance from the jet.

W hen oil is used for fuel no tunnels are necessary, but hollow casings 32, 32 are pro vided at opposite ends or" each oi the lines 9, and the jet pipes 33, 33, trained therein along with steam pipes 3% by which the flames are driven horizontally into the fines as tar as desired; and in case of need other casings 35 and jets 36 are inserted higher up in each flue.

In order to use coal 'Z'or fuel the top oi each flue is provided above each arch 6 with a funnel 40 adapted to be closed by a re movable cover 41 through which coal in small quantities is dropped at lllllfiliVttlS. W hen coal oi good quality is used no bottom draft is needed, the coal burning freely in the air entering through the arches 5, but when interior coal is employed it is sometimes desirable to provide sin-all tunnels 4L2, roofed with lireclay tiles d3 iormed with slits la. The paper flaps are used in all cases, preventing the air from being drawn back through kilns in front of the ian, while being easily displaced when the fan is moved beyond them and being consumed when the ire reaches them. The heat from each kiln is also sniiicient to ignite the fuel in the next succeeding kiln.

lt is within my invention to modify the pattern oil the bricks at different points if desired lor the purpose oi controlling or directing the gas thaw. For example it may soinetin'ies be desirable to lay the first tier ol bricks adjacent the fines somewhat more closely at the bottom to discourage the gas from cutting across; but in general I prefer to build the kiln interior or as uniform texture as possible to the end that it may settle uniformly and without markedly changing the course oi the gases as the burning proceeds, although the shrinkage of the bricks in the cross walls 5 is to some extent A. still at,

advantageous in that it tends to draw the fire in that direction and hence to burn he upper corner or" the kiln adjacent thereto.

By avoiding the use of permanent walls I both decrease expense oi construct on and maintenance, facilitate the biiildin i and loading out oi the kilns which can thus be done in the opening, and avoid the waste of heat otherwise absorbed by ticrinanent structures; by dispensing with separate air ducts such as tunnels avoid the condensation of water and the deposition oi dust therein, both of which would otherwise have to be removed. The described apparatus cuts the fuel cost to less than hall and eripcditos the tearing down of kilns by accelerating their cooling thereby increasing the output of a given size of plant. But there are many changes in detail which may be mar in the scope of my invention and do not limit myself except as recited in the annexed claims, neither do 1 blocks of any one shape nor (lo 1 tile and other articles but i .elude the generic term of rick. have shown the fines S) as wholly unobstructd it do not exclude a partial obstruction of the same since my invention is not avoided merely by impairing it in some degree. Also I do not limit myseli to the use oi portable tans to produce the suction since sta tionary ians can be employed, and connected to the different kilns by tunnels or conduits.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. ln kiln construction, the combination with parallel side walls, oi cross walls connecting the same and having openings at their bottoms, bricks built within said walls in opcn-work relation, said bricks spaced from one side 01" each cross wall to define an open fine with which said openings coinniunicate, and said walls being built up with and supported by and removed with said bricks, means for drawing air through successive kilns, and means for burning fuel in said lines in front oi said openings.

2. Brick burning apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of field kilns built in a row, each kiln comprising a body of bricks hacked in open relation surrounded ant sepa ated from adjacent kilns by tein porary walls supported by said bricks, there being an open fine at the side of each kiln adjacent to the neighboring kiln. and a comparativel t tight wall at the opposite side, the lower portion of such wall having one or more openings adapted to communicate with. the line oi the next kiln, and means for introducing combustible material into said tlues.

Bricl: burning apparatus winprising, in combination, a plurality oi field kilns built in a row, each kiln comprising a body of bricks hacked in open relation surround cd and separated from adjacent kilns by temporary walls supported by said bricks, there being an open line at the side of each kiln adjacent: to the neighboring kiln and a comparatively tight wall at the opposite side, the lower portion of such wall having one or more openings adapted to connnunicats with he line of the next kiln, and means tor connecting a suction device to the side wall oi each flue.

a. Brick burning apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of field kilns built in a row, each kiln comprising a body oi bricks hacked in open relation surrounded and separated from adjacent kilns by temporary walls supported by said bricks, there being an open tlue at toe side of each kiln adjacent to the neighboring kiln and a comparatively tight wall at the oppo, 'to side, the lower portion of such wall having or more openings adapted to con'nnunirate h the line of the next kiln, valve means permitting a flow of air from each kiln to the flue of the next kiln while preventing a return flow, and means for con necting a suction fan to the side wall of each line.

5. Brick burning apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of heaps of loosely piled bricks, impervious top and lateral walls embracing the same, and cross walls separatin them, said cross walls impervious except at the bottom, eac 1 cross wall having at one side a substantially open flue, means for attaching a suction fan to any flue, and means for introducing combustible material into any flue, all of such walls being sup ported by and dismantled with said loosely piled bricks.

6. Brick burning apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of rectangular heaps of loosely piled bricks, spaced apart in a row, impervious walls embracing said piles on all sides and supported thereby, the cross walls being spaced from the bricks at one side of the same to define a fine there with and having openings at the bottom into such fine, a movable suction device adapted to be attached to any fine, and means for introducing combustible material into any flue.

7. Brick burning apparatus comprising spaced impervious side walls and top wall, and cross walls of bricks to be burned. the latter arranged in transverse partitions which are tight excepting at the bottom, and interspersed piles of bricks to be burned so loosely packed as to enable uniform percolation of gases therethrough, each pile being located closely adjacent to one partition and spaced from the next partition to form a transverse flue which reaches from the bottom of said kiln to the top wall in combination with suction devices to draw such gases through successive piles and means for feect 1 (bid iu i-oinbustil'ile material adjacent to said transverse partitions, said walls engaging said loosely packed bricks in supported rela tion.

8. llrick burning apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of lield kilns built in a row and having substantially impervious scovingand platting, each kiln being separated from the next kiln'by a transverse wall which is built up anew witheach kiln and is substantially impervious except for spaced apertures and eachkiln also 'hava closablc lateral opening in its scovr combustible valves for preventing back flow through such apertures while permitting direct flew, and a portable exhaust device cdap vrd to have its intake connected to any one oi said lateral openings.

F llrick burning apparatus comprising, unit pl rality 0t field kilns l having substantially imand platting, each kiln be- ,epa ated llOll. the next kiln by a transwall which is substantia ly impervious also l'iaving adjacent to said transverse wall an open tine which extends from bottom to top thercoi the scoving being formed with a closable exhaust opening for each of said lines, and suction producing apparatus adapted to be connected to any of said exhaust openings in drait producing relation.

10. Brick burning apparatus otthe con tinuous type comprising a row of field kilns having substantially impervious side Walls and spaced cross walls, the latter having flues at one side and openings at the bottom, the kilns having substantially impervious top walls carried by the bricks to be burned and said openings constituting air inlets and said ilues constituting combustion and updraft chambers.

11. Brick burning apparatus or" the continuous'type comprising a row of field kilns having substant ally impervious side walls and s aced cross walls, said cross walls be ing pervious at the bottom and impervious at the top and the bricks inthe separate chambers so defined being hacked with increasing porosity toward the top, said bricks being spaced from said side walls at one side to define combustion, and tip-draft chambers, and substantially impervious root's carried ly the bricks to be burned.

12. Continuous process brick burning apparatus of the field kiln type characterized by having continuous side and top walls and s iaced cross walls, the latter being substantially impervious except adjacent to the bottom and spaced from the bricks at one side to define combustion and updraft chambers, said bricks being backed with increasing looseness toward the top, and means for creating suction in fines subsequent to the first flue.

tor spaced apertures and each kiln a 13. Continuous process brick burning apsaid bricks being hacked in loose burner paratus of the field kiln type characterized relation throughout the body of each chamby haying continuous side and top walls and her, and piled with increased looeeness ad- 1 spaced cross Wails, the latter being suhstanjacent to the Walls and roof.

tiaiiy impervious except adjacent to the bot- In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my tom and SPEIGBCifI'OlIl the bricks at one side signature.

to define combustion and lip-draft chambers WILLIAM W. DICKINSON, JR, 

